Wigmore Wanderers Dominate New Road Athletic 7-2 At Hempstead Recreation Ground

Wigmore Wanderers FC welcomed New Road Athletic to Hempstead Recreation Ground #2 on the morning of 14 December 2025, with kick-off at 10:30am. The home side produced a commanding performance in this league fixture, running out comfortable 7-2 victors after a relentless display of attacking football.

Wigmore Wanderers lined up in a 4-2-1-3 formation, deploying a solid back four of Tom Spearink at right back, Finley Leah and Alex Toms as central defenders, and Harvey Edkins on the left. The double pivot in midfield featured Harley Tutt and Liam Apps, tasked with both shielding the defence and initiating attacks. Kai Wong operated as the attacking midfielder, linking play between midfield and the front three. Up front, Ronnie Porter took up the right forward role, George Hennessy on the left, and Jason Yuen led the line as the central striker. The substitutes named were Harry Smith, Ben Brewster, and James Lundie.

The match burst into life early on as Kai Wong opened the scoring in the third minute. Harvey Edkins delivered a precise long pass into the box, which Wong met with a close-range header to give the Wanderers an early advantage. The home side’s attacking intent was clear from the outset, with the left defender’s overlapping runs and pinpoint delivery proving crucial.

Wigmore’s pressure paid off again in the 16th minute when an unfortunate own goal from New Road Athletic doubled the lead. The goal came from a clever lob into the box that caught the opposition defence off guard. However, New Road Athletic responded immediately, pulling a goal back just a minute later with a close-range tap-in finished with the right foot, keeping the visitors in the contest.

The Wanderers restored their two-goal cushion in the 20th minute through Jason Yuen. Alex Toms, stepping forward from his central defensive role, launched a long pass that found Yuen inside the box. The striker controlled well and slotted the ball home with his right foot, demonstrating clinical finishing. Yuen doubled his tally nine minutes later when he converted a penalty, awarded after a foul in the box. His composed right-footed strike left the goalkeeper with no chance.

At 32 minutes, Wigmore made their first tactical substitution, bringing on Harry Smith for Finley Leah in defence, aiming to maintain defensive solidity while continuing their attacking momentum. This change seemed to invigorate the side, as just a minute later Liam Apps scored a spectacular goal from outside the area. Assisted by a cross from Ronnie Porter, Apps unleashed a right-footed shot from distance that flew into the net, extending the lead further.

The first half ended with Wigmore firmly in control at 5-1, reflecting their dominance in both possession and chances created.

Early in the second half, tactical changes continued with Ben Brewster replacing Ronnie Porter in the 58th minute. The substitution paid immediate dividends as George Hennessy capitalised on a cross from Jason Yuen to score inside the box, showcasing excellent positioning and a precise right-footed finish.

New Road Athletic’s frustrations boiled over shortly after when one of their players was shown a red card for serious foul play in the 61st minute, reducing them to ten men and making their uphill battle even steeper.

Wigmore’s tactical reshuffle continued in the 67th minute with James Lundie coming on for Jason Yuen. Just two minutes later, Lundie found the net himself, capitalising on a goalmouth scramble to add a sixth for the Wanderers. The goal underlined the team’s relentless attacking threat and ability to punish defensive lapses.

In the 73rd minute, Ronnie Porter returned to the pitch, replacing George Hennessy, while Jason Yuen was reintroduced in place of Kai Wong eight minutes later, signalling fresh attacking impetus as the match approached its final stages.

Despite being down to ten men, New Road Athletic managed to pull a second goal back in the 84th minute with an inside-the-box finish, but it was too little, too late against a rampant Wigmore side.

Wigmore Wanderers’ 7-2 victory was a comprehensive display of attacking football, tactical flexibility, and clinical finishing. Kai Wong’s early goal and overall influence earned him the player of the match accolade, highlighting his pivotal role as the attacking midfielder in this high-scoring encounter. The home side’s ability to adapt with substitutions and maintain pressure throughout ensured they dominated proceedings from start to finish.